Package filling apparatus and method



March 12, 1957 Filed Nov. 22, 1952 FlG.l

s. M. SILVER 2,784,746

PACKAGE FILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

-- Sion M.Silver 01 y v i TTo fl Y March 12, 1957 I s. M. SILVER'2,784,746

PACKAGE FILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD FiledNov. 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 229 FIG.3 21 3 44 Jooo 000000 000000 000000 000000 T-000000' 1 44 vINVENTOR. 45 0 0 3s 3 4o 41 BY S fl M.S||ver 14/ )7 F I G 6 31 4 AT ORUnited States Patent PACKAGE FILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD Stan M.Silver, Levittown, N. Y., assignor to Louis Silver, New York, N. Y.

Application November 22, 1952, Serial No. 322,005

12 Claims. (Cl. 141-1 .The present invention relates to apparatus forfilling small measured quantities of highly viscous substancesimultaneously into a plurality of receptacles and more particularly toapparatus which is especially adapted for use in the process of makingthe oil paint packages described and claimed in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 305,435, filed August 20, 1952.

In said application I have described and claimed a novel type of apackage for small quantities of oil paint or like viscous substances,which is capable of preserving its contents indefinitely and is alsoconveniently capable ofa number of repeated uses and is economicallyexpendable.

In said application I have described such package as consisting of aflat-bottomed cylindrical cup or receptacle which is formed with aflange that may have continuous with it an enlargement to form atable-like top on which a pressure tape may be secured to open and closethe receptacle, or which cup may be set into an. opening formed into arelatively large section of rigid sheet material, such as cardboard,which similarly serves as a surface for the adhesion of the pressuretape closure for the receptacle.

In my said application I have described a method for making thesepackages which includes the step of arranging a plurality of such cupsin regularly spaced relation in a continuous, rigid supporting sheetmember substantially flush with the cup openings, filling the cups withthe necessary material, simultaneously applying pressure tape over allor a plurality of such cups, and then diecutting the continuous sheetalong the spaces intermediate the cups to provide a plurality of severedpackages of the invention from the same sheet.

The present invention is directed to apparatus for simultaneouslyfilling all of the cups set or formed in a single supporting sheet,preliminary to the application of pressure tape thereover and to theseverance of the sheet to provide separate individual packages.

Because of the high viscosity of the oil paints that are generallyplaced into the packages, no method or apparatus has heretofore beenfound suitable to simultaneously fi-ll more than one of the cups at atime and each cup formed or set into the sheet prior to the severancestep had to be separately individually filled, as through a pressuregun, with the desired amount of contents. The filling operation,therefore, has heretofore been laborious, slow and messy and relativelycostly. The slowness of operation was enhanced by the frequent need forthe taking apart and the putting together of the pressure gun forrefilling.

[The present invention is directed to the provision of apparatus whichwill quickly as well as easily, accurately and simultaneously fill allof the cups in any one supporting sheet, in one operation, to therebymake the filling operation time, labor, as well as material saving, andtherefore making the packages of the present invention more economicalto produce and more readily expendable.

2,784,746 Patented Mar lz, 1957 The specific advantages andsuperiorities of the apparatus of the present invention will become morereadily comprehensible to those skilled in the art from the oneembodiment of the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawing and fromthe description following. It is to be understood, however, that suchembodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principlesand practices of the invention more readily comprehensible and that anyintent to limit the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings: p t y a Fig. 1 is a view, in side elevation, of oneembodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, shown in nonfilling position; i

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 44 ofFig. 3, and showing the apparatus in filling position;

Fig. 5 is an exploded, fragmentary, perspective view showing a pluralityof connected receptacles and a portion of the base of the apparatus,including the receptacle positioning recess; and i Fig. 6 is afragmentary, enlarged, exploded sectional view showing details of thearrangement. of a receptacle, with the receptacle positioning means andfeed tube, immediately prior to the filling position.

Generally stated, the invention resides in the provision of apparatus bywhich there is simultaneously inserted a feed tube into each of aplurality of integrally supported receptacles with each feed tube beingof a size to hold a measured quantity of viscous material that may beswabbed or pressed thereinto and of means for expelling the materialfrom the feed tubes into the receptacles as the former are graduallysimultaneously removed from the latter.

More specifically, the invention consists of a tray having a pluralityof openings along a central portion thereof, such openings being spacedfrom one another in correspondence to the spacing of the receptaclesfrom one another in their integrally supporting member, each of saidtray openings having a dependent feed tube of a size that will hold aquantity of material that will not exceed the volume of a receptacle andwhich is adapted to rest on the bottom of the receptacle when thetray ispositioned thereabove, and of tray vibrating means, preferably of theelectrical type, which may be put into operation as the tray is liftedfrom the cups, preferably mechanically, to thereby shake the contents ofthe feed tubes into the cups.

Referring in greater detail to the apparatus ,of the present invention,the same may comprise a table, 10, preferably supported on standards,11, and having rising therefrom an upright plate, 12, disposedlongitudinally at a rear central point thereof.

A horizontal plate, 14, extends forwardly from the plate, 12, and maycarry on its end a vertical guide block, 15, having a preferablyrectangular guideway, 16, therein, in which is supported, in verticallyreciprocable position, a rack, 17.

The lower end of the rack 17 supports, in any desired manner, ahorizontally disposed bar, 20, extending transversely of the table 10,from which are supported, in turn, forwardly and longitudinallyextending angle bars, 21, on which is supported in horizontal position atray, 22, preferably having upstanding side walls, 23. i

The plate 12 carries a vertical angle bar, 25, extending thereabove, atthe top of which is supported a crossbar,

26, preferably extending longitudinally of the table 10,.

and carrying a pulley, 27, at each of its ends, across which there isdisposed a cable, 28, one end of which is connected to the upper end ofthe rack 1.7 and the other end of which supports weights, 29, forcounterbalancing the weight of the rack 17 and the tray 22 supportedtherefrom.

Also supported on the plate 12 is a gear wheel, 31 of suitable size andin position to mesh with the rack 17, to move the rack and supportedtray as the gear 31 is turned. The. gear wheel 31 is supported at theend of a shaft, 32, which is journalled in a, bearing, 33, set into anopening in the platen. The other end of the shaft 32, to the other sideofthe plate 12 from the gear wheel, may have, preferably integrallyformed, as by offsetting the end thereof, an operating arm, 35, having ahand grip at its end. I

It will be apparent that by this arrangement, the tray 32 may be moved.up and down to lower the same onthe table1 0' and to rafiseit therefromwith great facility and with a minimum of effort.

Mounted on the table below the tray 22 is a plate, 36, having a recess,37, of preferably rectangular shape, formed therein which recess 37opens into the forward end of the' plate. 36' preferably with roundedcorners, 38.

The recess 37 is of a size to encompass therein in snug fit, all of theflat-bottomed receptacles or cups, 40, which are set in regularpredetermined spaced relation in a rigid sheet or board, 41, which hasbeen die cut to size and shape and to be provided with openings inpredetermined arrangement and location for receiving the cups 41, sothat the outermost of the receptacles 40 rest against the side walls,43, of the recess 37 and the marginal edge portion of the board 41overlie the marginal edge portion of the recess 37, as, more clearlyshown in Figs. 4 and 6. The depth of'the recess 37 may be suflicient toaccommodate "the height of the receptacles 40 projecting from theunderside of the board 41.

' Formed in the bottom of the tray 22 are a plurality of openings, 44,spaced from one another to register with the receptacles 40' arranged inany board 41 that fitted into the recess 37. Each ofthe openings 44 isformed with a dependent cylindrical feed tube, 45, of a diameter thatwill fit Within a receptaclev and of a height which will reach to thebottom of the receptacle when the tray is lowered and of the combinedheight and diameter to have a volumenot exceeding the volume of areceptacle.

In operation a board or sheet 41 of receptacles 40 is fitted into therecess 37, as by sliding thereinto. The tray 22 is then lowered bymovement of the arm 35 in the proper direction until the bottoms of thefeed tubes 45 rest on the bottoms of the receptacles 40; A quantity ofthe viscous oil paint, 47, or the like which may have previously beendeposited in the tray 22 to one side of the openings 44 is then passedonce or twice back andforth. across the opening by means of a suitableswab or scraper to thereby fillthe feed tubes 45, the main body of thepaint being left to one side of the apertured area of the tray at theend of the operation. The tray 22 is then slowly and gradually liftedwhile some force is applied to discharge the contents of the feed tubes45 into the receptacles 40 assuch feed tubes are removed therefrom. Inthe form of the invention illustrated in the drawings such expulsionmeans comprises a vibrator, 48, preferably of the electrical type andpreferably of the vertically operating type which is supported on thebottom of the tray 22. Theparticular construction of the vibrator 48 isnot illustrated, as numerous such vibrators are readily available on themarket and their construction does not constitute any part of thisinvention.

The vibrator 48' may be suitably connected to a source of electriccurrent and' may be put into operation by the operator, by the throwingof aswitch suitably arranged in the circuit of the vibrator (not shown)immediately prior to his raising of the tray from the receptacles.

It has been found that the vibration of the tray 22 duringthe gradualremoval thereof from the receptacles 40 efiectively. and. completelyemptiesthe contents of the feed tubes 45 into their respectivereceptacles 40 thus enabling the simultaneous filling of all thereceptacles at one and the same time.

Means may be provided for automatically breaking the circuit through thevibrator 48 as the tray is raised in position. This means may include anupright post 49, supported on the cross bar 20, having at its upper endan adjustably supported bar 50, and a toggle switch 51 having a togglearm 52, which is arranged in position to be tripped into circuitbreaking position by the bar 50 as the tray is moved upwardly.

It will be understood, of course, that the making and breaking of thevibrator circuit may be entirely manual, and entirely performed by theoperator at the proper time or may be entirely or in part automatic; asmay be desired. As many circuits and mechanisms for their automatic orsemi-automatic control being available or capable of being devised, theydo not constitute any part of this invention.

After all of cups 40 in a sheet 41 have been simultaneously filled asdescribed above, the sheet is removed from the apparatus and strip orstrips of tab material are placed between each pair of rows of cups inthe sheet, so that each row of cups has tape strip on one side thereof.Pressure tape is then simultaneously applied over each row of cups orover several or all of the rows of cups; such pressure tape alsooverlying the cup flanges and at least part of the sheet areasurrounding each cup and wholly or partly overlying the tab strips. Thesupporting sheet 41 is then die-cut to simultaneously sever each cup anda surrounding portion of the sheet material and a portion of the tabstrip from the sheet 41, to thereby simultaneously form a plurality ofindividual, separate packages of the invention.

This completes the description of the apparatus and method for thesimultaneous filling of receptacles of the character described withviscous fluids. It will be readily apparent that the apparatus of thepresent invention, while highly eflicient for its purpose, is ofrelatively simple construction and simple and easy to operate and thatthe methods for using the same are simple to practice, certain in theirresults and do not require the services of a skilled or trainedoperator.

It will also be apparent that the apparatus comprises few and simpleoperating parts that are strong and sturdy and are not likely to get outof order and will remain in efficient Working condition for long periodsof time. It will likewise be apparent that the apparatus of the presentinvention is compact and occupies but little space.

It will further be apparent that numerous variations and modificationsin the apparatus of the present invention may be made by anyone skilledin the art, in accordance with the principles of the inventionhereinabove set forth and without the use of any inventive. ingenuity. Idesire, therefore, to be protected for any and all such modificationsand variations that may be made within the spirit of the presentinvention and the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for filling open top receptacles with a viscous fluid,including an open ended feed tube adapted to fit into the receptacle,means mounting said feed tube for vertical reciprocation, meanspositioning said receptacle in upright position below said feed tube andmeans associated with the feed tube for vibrating the same as it ismoved out of the receptacle.

2. Apparatus for filling an open top receptacle with.

a viscous fluid, comprising a feed tube adapted to fit within thereceptacle and to rest on the bottom thereof, means mounting said feedtube for vertical reciprocation, means positioning said receptacle inupright position below said feed tube and means associated with saidfeed tube for vibrating thesame as it is moved out of the receptacle.

3. Apparatus for filling an open top receptacle with a viscous fluid,comprising a feed tube open at both; ends and adapted to be filled withthe viscous fluid, said feed tube adapted to fit within the receptacleand to rest on the bottom thereof, means mounting said feed tube forvertical reciprocation, means positioning said receptacle in uprightposition below said feed tube and means associated with said feed tubeto vibrate the same as it is moved out of the receptacle.

4. Apparatus for filling a receptacle having an opening in the topthereof with a viscous fluid, comprising an open ended feed tube adaptedto fit into and rest on the bottom of the receptacle and of a volume notexceeding the volume of the receptacle, means mounting said feed tubefor vertical reciprocation, means positioning said receptacle in uprightposition below said feed tube and means associated with said feed tubefor vibrating the same as it is moved out of the receptacle.

5. Apparatus for filling a receptacle having a top opening with aviscous fluid, including an open ended feed tube adapted to have thefluid pressed thereinto, said feed tube adapted to fit Within said topopening and to rest on the bottom of said receptacle and of a volume notto exceed the volume of said receptacle, means mounting said feed tubefor vertical reciprocation, means positioning said receptacle in uprightposition below said feed tube and electrically operated vibrating meansassociated with said feed tube and adapted to vibrate the same as it isremoved from said receptacle.

6. Apparatus for filling a receptacle having an opening in the topthereof with a viscous fluid, comprising means for positioning saidreceptacle in upright position, a tray supported above said receptaclepositioning means for vertical reciprocation thereover, said tray havingan opening formed in the bottom thereof in register with the opening ofa receptacle arranged in said positioning means, a feed tube dependingfrom the bottom of said tray around said opening, said feed tube of asize adapted to fit into said receptacle opening and to rest on thebottom of said receptacle and vibrating means associated with said trayadapted to vibrate the same as it is moved upwardly to remove the feedtube from the receptacle.

7. Apparatus for filling a receptacle having an opening in the topthereof with a viscous fluid, comprising means for positioning areceptacle in upright position, a tray mounted for verticalreciprocation above said positioning means, mechanism for verticallyreciprocating said tray, an opening formed in the bottom of said tray inregister with the opening of a receptacle disposed within saidpositioning means, a feed tube depending from the bottom of said trayaround said opening, said feed tube of a size adapted to fit into saidreceptacle opening and to rest on the bottom thereof as said tray islowered over said receptacle and of a volume not exceeding the volume ofsaid receptacle, and electrically operated means for vibrating said trayas it is moved to remove the feed tube from the receptacle.

8. Apparatus for filling simultaneously a plurality of receptacles eachhaving an opening in its top with a viscous fluid, comprising means forpositioning said receptacles in upright position, a tray supported forvertical reciprocation over said positioning means, said tray having aplurality of openings formed in the bottom thereof along a centralportion thereof, each of said openings arranged to register with theopening of one of the receptacles arranged in said positioning means,said tray having a plurality of open ended feed tubes depending from thebottom thereof, each around one of said openings, each of said feedtubes of a volume not exceeding the volume of a receptacle and of a sizeadapted to fit into a receptacle opening and rest on the bottom thereofas said tray is lowered in position, and means associated with said trayfor vibrating the same as it is raised to remove said feed tubes fromsaid receptacles.

9. Apparatus for simultaneously filling a plurality of receptacleshaving a top opening and secured in spaced relation to one another in aunitary fiat board, comprising a tray, means for supporting said tray invertically reciprocable position, mechanism for selectively moving saidtray upwardly and downwardly, including a counterbalance, means forpositioning said receptacles below said tray, a plurality of aperturesformed in the bottom of said tray at a distance from opposed edgesthereof, each of said apertures arranged to register with the opening ofone of the receptacles arranged in said positioning means, an open endedfeed tube depending from the underside of said tray around each of saidopenings, each of said feed tubes of a volume not exceeding the volumeof a receptacle and of a size to fit within the opening thereof and torest on the bottom thereof as said tray is lowered into position, andelectrically operated vibrating means connected in an electric surfacesupported on said tray and adapted to vibrate the same as it is raisedin position to remove said feed tubes from said receptacles.

10. Apparatus for simultaneously filling a plurality of receptacles eachhaving an opening in the top thereof and supported in spaced relation toone another in a unitary fiat plate, comprising a base, an upright onsaid base, a guideway on said upright for a vertically reciprocablerack, a rack slidably arranged in said guideway, a horizontally disposedtnay supported on said rack in position to extend over said base,counterbalancing means for said rack and said tray supported on saidupright, a shaft journalled on said upright, said shaft having a gearwheel secured thereto engaging said rack and a. handle for rotating saidshaft to selectively reciprocate said rack upwardly and downwardly, saidtray having a plurality of apertures formed in its bottom along acentral portion thereof, each of said apertures having :a feed tubecontinuous therewith depending from the underside of said tray, each ofsaid feed tubes adapted to fit into and rest upon the bottom of areceptacle disposed below said tray, means on said base for positioningsaid receptacles in said plate each in register with one of said feedtubes, and vibrating means secured on said tray for vibrating the sameas it is moved upwardly for removing said feed tubes from saidreceptacles.

11. The method for filling an open top receptacle with a viscous fluidwhich comprises the steps of arranging said receptacle in uprightposition, arranging an open ended feed tube within said receptacle withits bottom resting on the bottom of said receptacle, filling said feedtube with the viscous fluid, gradually Withdrawing said feed tube fromsaid receptacle and simultaneously vibrating said feed tube as it iswithdrawn from said receptacle.

12. The method for simultaneously filling a plurality of receptacleshaving a top opening with a viscous substance which comprises the stepsof positioning a tray having a plurality of spaced openings formed inits bottom and having feed tubes extending downwardly from said openingswith each of its feed tubes extending into the opening of a receptacleand resting on the bottom thereof, moving a mass of the viscous materialin the tray across said openings and pressing the same into said feedtubes, and then removing said feed tubes from saidreceptacles andsimultaneously vibrating the tray to thereby expel the viscous materialfrom the feed tubes into the receptacles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS510,953 Ballard et-al Dec. 19, 1893 1,733,998 Rosen Oct. 29, 19291,926,137 Blashow Sept. 12, 1933 2,155,336 Smith Apr. 18, 1939 2,323,864Weyandt July 6, 1943 2,347,509 Salfisberg Apr. 25, 1944 2,689,676Ferguson et al. Sept. 21, 1954

